Curse

SupaPhat · Oct 01, 2005, 07:58 PM // 19:58

This is one of my absolute favourite builds I've made and its seems to me like its pretty standard but no ones really told anyone about it.

Updated upon feedback, ty

Earth Shattering (Elementalist)
Making it Elementalist/Monk will give you some added help if you want to try and figure out a good way to heal or attract enemies around you for the 2 surrounding dmg spells in the build

Attributes
16 Earth Magic (12 + 3 + 1)
12 Energy Storage (11 + 1)
7 Air Magic (6 + 1)

Skill Set
Stone Daggers (25 dmg per stone dagger, two daggers fly in about 3 seconds)
Obsidian Flame (118 dmg and only 5 energy BUT exhaustion)
Whirlwind (36 cold dmg, ATTACKING foes are struck down [affects multiple targets AROUND the caster so long as they are attacking])
Aftershock (105 dmg, you'll be lucky if you get 177 for a knocked down foe [affects multiple targets AROUND the caster])
Obsidian Flesh (Air Spikers are now useless and no mesmer interrupts)
Armor of Earth (Physical dmg is a thing of the past)
Earth Attunement (Keeps a decent energy flow)
Resurrection Signet (Keep the team alive)

Weapons
PvP Earth Staff
+10 Energy
11-22 Earth dmg (req. 9 Earth magic)
Improves casting speed of Earth Spells (20% Chance)
Improves recharge speed of Earth Spells (20% Chance)
Insightful Staff Head (+5 Energy) and Staff Wrapping of Enchanting (Enchantments last 20% longer)
Damage +20%

----

PvP Earth Wand
11-22 Earth dmg (req. 9 Earth magic)
Improves recharge speed of Earth Spells (20% Chance)
Damage +20%

PvP Scroll
Energy +12 (req. 12 Eath magic)
Energy +15
Energy Regen -1
Health +30

Armor
Superior Vigor
All the anti-air armor/armor that gives defense against air (this is only due to the sheer amount of air spikers)
Stones Eye (+1 Earth)

The Flaws:
- Very little self healing.
- Some skills do rely on having enemies surround you
- During long battles exhaustion will make you nearly useless for your team
Other than that this is probably one of the most damaging builds Ive ever used and it generally farms faction quite well.
- Interrupt Rangers could ruin this almost entirely but Stone Daggers, and Crystal Wave require no charge, also Armor of Earth will stop most damage from them.
-Interrupt Mesmers have a 9 second wall of freedom on you, as with any other caster. After the 9 seconds Obsidian Flesh shuts them down again.

The Strategy
Most commonly the battle begins everyone runs out and they stand there till someone runs out to the other team. When someone begins to run out whether if be your team or the others cast Earth Attunement because it reqs a charge time of a few seconds. Follow up with Armor of Earth. Now if you have to run to the enemy you will be slowed by 12% but not the possible 62% had you cast Obsidian Flesh first. Run to the enemy of choice. Hit Obsidian Flesh so you won't be interrupted by mesmers and other casters won't be touching you. Armor of Earth keeps the warrior pissed off so they wont be on you either. When beside the enemy they know its coming so throw Whirlwind and immediately use aftershock. After that spam with Obsidian Flame, when its recharging use Stone Daggers. Wash, rinse and repeat.

Shattered_Glass · Oct 02, 2005, 07:38 PM // 19:38

coudl this build also be used in pve as hte high dmg and aoe it has?

SupaPhat · Oct 02, 2005, 09:46 PM // 21:46

Of course it could be used in PvE but you'd have to remember, monsters generally don't wear armour. So the effects of some of the attacks will be even more effective in PvE yet seem simply not as well done compared to when its used in PvP because in PvP everyone is wearing armour, and everyones attacks are decreased by that armour except for a few of yours.

I will note, I have never used this in PvE but Im quite sure it would work just fine, you may even be able to solo some lower level areas.

Asprah · Oct 02, 2005, 10:18 PM // 22:18

Hm,so if this is a Pvp build why dont u use ress signet?

SupaPhat · Oct 02, 2005, 10:38 PM // 22:38

I generally don't bring a Res on this build in the competition arena, if your going to bring it in the higher areas make sure you have a monk then simply switch the Aura of Restoration with a Res Signet. If someone else is going to be healing then there should be little need for self-healing especially when this build is so heavily armoured.

Vindexus · Oct 03, 2005, 12:59 AM // 00:59

How do plan to use Crystal Wave and Aftershock with a -~60% run speed? Why do you have Aftershock without a knockdown? Resurection signet is a requirement to winning in Random arena.

Katari · Oct 03, 2005, 01:26 AM // 01:26

If you were to use a similar PBAoE Earth ele build in PvE, Earthquake is mist-have. Simply replace crystal wave with it. Obsid flesh sounds like a nice idea, but for a build that depends so much standing nect to the target, Its difficult to use.

For knockdown in PvP , another option is to drop you ES to 10 or 11, and get around 9 Air, and use "Shock". A great replacement for Crystal Wave imo, too many builds depend on conditions.

Neo-LD · Oct 03, 2005, 01:35 AM // 01:35

best elite for an earth ele may be glyph of energy to eliminate exhasution on an obsidian flame every 15s.

oh and wtf where is your res sig.

Yamat · Oct 03, 2005, 02:41 AM // 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katari

For knockdown in PvP , another option is to drop you ES to 10 or 11, and get around 9 Air, and use "Shock". A great replacement for Crystal Wave imo, too many builds depend on conditions.

Or Whirlwind...

SupaPhat · Oct 03, 2005, 04:04 AM // 04:04

After the helpful feedback I threw away Crystal Wave.

I switched Crystal Wave with whirlwind because it has no exhaustion and hits all surrounding attacking enemies.

Aura of Restore is gone also so now there is a Resurrection Signet, you'll have to forgive me I spend most of my time in the Comp Arenas because I enjoy fiddling with various builds.

The reasoning behind not using EarthQuake which would be helpful is simply, it costs 25 Energy and thats with exhaustion. If Obsidian Flame is the both the curse and victor for this build, EarthQuake makes this build a sharper double edged sword and I assure you, 9 times out of 10 its not gonna land you a victory when you have no energy in the first 2 minutes.

Hopefully the build is more refined for the everyday PvPer and more feedback would be helpful, this isn't the build to end all builds but definitely a good one.

Yamat · Oct 03, 2005, 06:15 AM // 06:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by SupaPhat

The reasoning behind not using EarthQuake which would be helpful is simply, it costs 25 Energy and thats with exhaustion.

I agree... I tried a build very much like this using Earthquake which was potent, for a short while... the 25 energy was a killer.

How are you doing with the changes you made? Are you finding the lack of mobility a problem? When I used my build similar to this I just used Kinetic Armor and Ward Against Melee.

On the mobility thing, that would be a killer in Tombs, but I guess its ok in 4v4..?